As we say farewell to 2012......

May 2013 be bright, festive, full of good cheer, love, life and happiness.....and good health........

May you enjoy loads of freedom to play with all your favourite toys........and share them when required to!

May delicious and legal treats be available to you from the galley at all times........just check on the ingredients first if sharing with your canine friends.......

May your favourite friends enjoy all the delights you have to offer under the Christmas tree.......

Just remember that in dreams and love there are NO impossibilities......may all the best be yours in 2013 and beyond........until next time!

And so that was Christmas 2012!

It is good to be children sometimes, never better than at Christmas. Charles Dickens.

I am always "bead happy"........ especially at Christmas time. Here my simple suncatchers that used to adorn my coffee shop many years ago are now enjoying space in the heart of my home....the kitchen!

And the same spot with a spectacular sunset.......... now you know why this is my favourite spot in my home. Just a pity about the leaking  pool though!

Christmas decor always starts in the heart of my home and then it literally mushrooms around the house and the garden! With our hot African climate we should be moving our inside out and celebrating in style in our beautiful gardens.

No reason why the Aloe in the garden should not be decorated as well?

This spectacular display of  Iceberg roses is an absolute treat, especially at this time of the year. 

Some more festive colour abounds with this display of cerise pink of the Scarlet Ohara bougainvillea.

Make the ingredients of your salad or starter  your table decoration. Here the baby tomatoes and rosa tomatoes cuddle next to calamata olives, scattered with feta cheese and sprinkled with fresh herbs from the garden. Just perfect Christmas colours.

Christmas would not be Christmas without the aroma of  Gammon roasting in the oven......... all part of the sights, sounds, aroma's, tastes and textures of the Festive Season. What a delight to the senses!

A tradition in any German household is to bake a large selection of spicy festive biscuits at Christmas time. Here Zimtsterne or spicy cinnamon stars are being cut out. 

While we are on the spice route, I cannot march on without mentioning good, old fashioned Ginger Bread. It is so quick and easy to prepare and it also fills the house with wonderful Christmas baking aroma's.  I also tested a silicone star shaped mould for the first time.....an absolute delight to bake with!

Hassle free baking with a silicone mould....thank you Judy! If one is a traditional baker used to using baking tins, this is a departure from the norm.......but it works like a dream!

Honigkuchen, another staple in any traditional German home at this time of the year. This recipe is from a close family friend......Tante Karla I will bring you a sample when I visit tomorrow!

The spice route continues....... we have now reached another traditional biscuit.....Pfeffernusse. A must for Christmas as it has many fond memories of the German Club attached to it. The home baked version is even better than mass produced biscuits.

A festive table to delight everyone, the start of any festive celebration. As Charles Dickens quoted; I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. So true!

Enjoy the spirit of Christmas and all the delights found under the tree.